Edit: definitely adding Grave of the Fireflies here, which, like Paths of Glory, doesn't even show any battle scenes - everybody suffers painfully including the viewer, very existentialist, some hope is left or restored, no happy end.

A disturbing German movie called The Bridge from '59. Saw it as a child and will never forget it. I'm sure it lost nothing in the course of time. It's quite well known over here, but I'm not so sure about overseas, although it got nominated for an Oscar. Heavily recommended.

A disturbing German movie called The Bridge from '59. Saw it as a child and will never forget it. I'm sure it lost nothing in the course of time. It's quite well known over here, but I'm not so sure about overseas, although it got nominated for an Oscar. Heavily recommended.

Die Brücke yes thanks for the reminder, saw in 1959.

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'You cannot undo history, but you can learn from it'

In the Netherlands anti war/anti militaristic are seen as the same thing.

Here is my perspective- Although there was a group of bad military people, the hero was a Marine Officer. You can't hold any organization as entirely bad, due to a few bad apples.

Here is a different example- When Avatar came out, it was described by a certain group of people as anti-human and anti-Christian because it describes a future where people had trashed the Earth, and anti-Christian because the locals believed in their God who made itself known through a tree. The movie was no such thing. It was just science fiction, not anti-anything.

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The modern business ethos: "I'm worth it, you're not, and I'm a glutton!"

Here is my perspective- Although there was a group of bad military people, the hero was a Marine Officer. You can't hold any organization as entirely bad, due to a few bad apples.

Here is a different example- When Avatar came out, it was described by a certain group of people as anti-human and anti-Christian because it describes a future where people had trashed the Earth, and anti-Christian because the locals believed in their God who made itself known through a tree. The movie was no such thing. It was just science fiction, not anti-anything.

I think that reason for the Anti-war/anti-militaristic coupling here in this part of Europe, is that we were occupied during the early 40's.

__________________
'You cannot undo history, but you can learn from it'

'King and Country' - and underrated - and sobering - British movie from the mid sixties directed by the late, great Joseph Losey, (and featuring Tom Courtenay and Dirk Bogarde among others).

The adaptation (but characteristically, while actually rather good, not anything like as good as the original, superlative book by the excellent Pat Barker on which it was based), of 'Regeneration'.

Dr Strangelove (obviously - sheer class - and utterly brilliant).

Paths of Glory, certainly, excellent and intelligent movie.

I agree with the inclusion of MASH as an anti-war movie, but I don't think Das Boot (while an excellent movie) is a classical anti-war movie, as much as it is an attempt to show that not all Germans were fanatical Nazis, and that one could be a brave, patriotic, if clear-eyed soldier without necessarily supporting the war aims of own's own (loathsome) Government.

Catch-22 certainly; and, again, another case where the book it was based on is light years better than the movie.

The Accident - a thoughtful and very well-made Dutch movie (based on an excellent book of the same title by the Dutch writer Harry Mulisch).

The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp - a lovely, thoughtful, intelligent, nuanced British movie made during the Second World War; Winston Churchill loathed it, apparently, and attempted (unsuccessfully) to have it banned.

There are others which come to mind....Apocalypse Now, yes, most certainly, I'd include that on a list of anti-war movies, but I'd argue that Saving Private Ryan, and Avatar belong to other categories.

I think that reason for the Anti-war/anti-militaristic coupling here in this part of Europe, is that we were occupied during the early 40's.

I guess this can apply to any genre, but war movies, can be "anti", showing the harm war does to society and to individuals and not just physical harm, I'd say Saving Private Ryan. Or it can be satirized as in Dr. Strange Love. Pro-war or propaganda = The Green Berets. And it can be more neutral attempt to document an event, maybe something like The Longest Day which my impression does a pretty good job of showing perspectives on both sides of the conflict.

BTW, I loved George C Scott as General Buck Turgidson and Slim Pickens as Maj. Kong in Dr. Strangelove. I would call it and Fail Safe the ultimate anti-war movies. I was 10 when my Dad took me to see Fail Safe in the theater. It made me feel ill. Of course back then we were doing the hide under the desk and kiss your ass goodbye drill in school.

__________________

The modern business ethos: "I'm worth it, you're not, and I'm a glutton!"

A disturbing German movie called The Bridge from '59. Saw it as a child and will never forget it. I'm sure it lost nothing in the course of time. It's quite well known over here, but I'm not so sure about overseas, although it got nominated for an Oscar. Heavily recommended.

I really want to see this, I enquired as to why it was never released here in the Netherlands, the main reason was that the movie is about the War of 1914-1918.
I'm trying to locate a copy via public library Web Rotterdam.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scepticalscribe

Very good idea for a thread.

'King and Country' - and underrated - and sobering - British movie from the mid sixties directed by the late, great Joseph Losey, (and featuring Tom Courtenay and Dirk Bogarde among others).

The adaptation (but characteristically, while actually rather good, not anything like as good as the original, superlative book by the excellent Pat Barker on which it was based), of 'Regeneration'.

Dr Strangelove (obviously - sheer class - and utterly brilliant).

Paths of Glory, certainly, excellent and intelligent movie.

I agree with the inclusion of MASH as an anti-war movie, but I don't think Das Boot (while an excellent movie) is a classical anti-war movie, as much as it is an attempt to show that not all Germans were fanatical Nazis, and that one could be a brave, patriotic, if clear-eyed soldier without necessarily supporting the war aims of own's own (loathsome) Government.

Catch-22 certainly; and, again, another case where the book it was based on is light years better than the movie.

The Accident - a thoughtful and very well-made Dutch movie (based on an excellent book of the same title by the Dutch writer Harry Mulisch).

The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp - a lovely, thoughtful, intelligent, nuanced British movie made during the Second World War; Winston Churchill loathed it, apparently, and attempted (unsuccessfully) to have it banned.

There are others which come to mind....Apocalypse Now, yes, most certainly, I'd include that on a list of anti-war movies, but I'd argue that Saving Private Ryan, and Avatar belong to other categories.

Sorry to be such a nerd I think that you have the name wrong
But the real name of that fantastic movie is De Aanslag over the resistance movement here in the Netherlands.
De Aanslag translates as The Assault

I really want to see this, I enquired as to why it was never released here in the Netherlands, the main reason was that the movie is about the War of 1914-1918.
I'm trying to locate a copy via public library Web Rotterdam.

Sorry to be such a nerd I think that you have the name wrong
But the real name of that fantastic movie is De Aanslag over the resistance movement here in the Netherlands.
De Aanslag translates as The Assault

Of course, you are right - I have the book somewhere on a shelf - and didn't bother checking the title before I posted (and - obviously - mixed it up with the British movie from the mid 60s of that name featuring Julie Christie and Dirk Bogarde).

Anyway, I saw the movie ("The Assault") sometime in the mid 80s at an art house cinema and thought it very good at the time, as it painted a subtle picture of trauma, loss, memory, motivations, and the long shadows cast by war.